Fence-post



V(No Model.)

J. L. SMOLLEY.

FENCE POST.

ented Peb.17i,

WITJV'ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. sMoLLEY, or TIPToN, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,524, dated February 17, 1885.

Application tiled June 27, 1884.

To all zulwm it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J AMES L. SMOLLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tipton, in the county of Tipton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the Vfollowing is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to improvements in fence-posts; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter Inore fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim appended.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple fence-post which may be used for rail, wire, or picket fences, or combined rail and wire fences. This object I accomplish by the means shown and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a representation of my fencepost in perspective, showing a portion of rails and wire attached. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the post, taken on the dotted lines of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a View of the post looking from the point end.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A- indicates the fence-post, B the rails, and C` the wires to form a fence. This post A is formed of wrought-iron, and its upper portion is T shape in cross-section. The forward vertical fiange, a, extends at right angles to the vrear flange, G, from the top ofthe post tothe point c thereof, the post from the points c to D being substantially triangular in crosssection. The branches or flanges d and d terminate in cutting-edges, as shown, to permit Vthe post to be easily inserted in the earth, and the harpoon-point is provided with the recesses f f at opposite sides of the flange d, and its rear fiat side is provided' with a straight bevel, g. The forward vertical flange, a, is also provided at suitable intervals with transverse vertically-curved slots F, having upper horizontal openings, 7L, to receive thefence-wire, which is afterward clamped in its seat by the lips z', as shown, to prevent either horizontal or lateral displacement of the wires. The post being formed .of wrought- (No model iron, these lips may, when it is desired to remove the wires, be bent out by any suitable instrument.

G indicates the rear fiat portion of the post, having the branches b b, which extend vertically and laterally from the flange a. These flanges b are provided with shoulders lc 7c, which in some cases may be4 used as driveshoulders in seating the post, and at suitable intervals above these shoulders are wings II, which are provided with horizontal perforations Z, to receive screws, nails, or other suitable devices for securing the rails B to the post.

This post is cheap, light, and simple in oon- `struction, and is adapted for use in various classes of fences.

I am aware that it is not new to form a fencepost of plate-iron having three flanges arl ranged relatively at right angles to each other,

the central flange of which is provided with open slots to receive fence-wires, and the other flanges respectively having holes for the reception of nails or other fastening devices when it is desirable to employ boards f'or fencing. and that such fianges at their lower ends are made tapering to permit easy insertion into the earth, and therefore do not claim such construction, broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new is 1 As .au improved article of manufacture, the fence-post described, formed of wrought-iron, having the rear vertical portion, G, provided with the lateral flanges, b b, perforated wings H, and shoulders lc, and the forward vertical flange, a, having thev transverse verticallycurved slots F, the respective flanges meeting each other in a greater angle from the point c to D to form cutting-edges, as shown and described, and the harpoon-point E, having the recesses f f and the straight bevel g, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twopwitnesses.`

J AMES L. SMOLLEY. lVitnesses:

JOHN Q. SERIGHT,

EzEA L. PIcKERING. 

